You just turned nineteen. Do you feel... different? Is strange magic happening all around you? Are you suddenly mindspeaking with a sentient animal? In The Awakened, this could be you. Sixteen exciting stories pull you into the diverse and unusual world of Grimaton, where the twin moons above might mean a lifetime of change. Join our celebrated authors as they explore the world of The Awakened and spotlight the heroes, the villains, and the magic; where a random few may find themselves bonded to an animal companion for life, or might find they are the possessor of weird and powerful magic they could never have imagined. How these exceptional few are treated and how they learn to use those unasked-for powers... Well, that is the adventure we have started here.Experience the highs and lows of becoming an Awakened, decide if you would use your power for good or for evil, and grow with characters who will make you proud... or make you angry. Featuring the works of: Erik Scott de Bie, Clinton Boomer, Steve Creech, Torah Cottrill, Darrin Drader, Hal Greenberg, Ed Greenwood, Doug Herring, Jaleigh Johnson, Rosemary Jones, Ty Johnston, Kevin Kulp, Colin McComb, Darren W. Pearce, Richard Redman, and Rai Smith Praise for The Awakened "If you hunt around, you can still find something fresh in the worlds of magic - something different - and the stories in The Awakened can prove it." -Matt Forbeck (Deadlands, Guild Wars and Eberron novelist) "The Awakened anthology is a fantastic romp brought to you by writers both new and those you already know. The magic underlying the world of the Awakened is unlike anything you've seen before, and the stories in this volume only whet the appetite for more." -Bruce R. Cordell (author of Sword of the Gods and Plague of Spells) "Becoming awakened is the culmination of all of your moments of consciousness focused into into a life purpose. It's time to sit back and dream as new and veteran authors weave a tapestry of awakening through your conscio